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PHYS30090

Academic Year 2024/2025

Digestion and Excretion (PHYS30090)

Subject:
Physiology
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Medicine
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Eoin Cummins
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
Blended
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

In this module current knowledge of the structures and functions of the human gastrointestinal tract and kidneys, and their importance to human health, will be studied. A major focus of the module will be integrative physiological mechanisms subserving gastrointestinal and renal functions.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students should be able to: - Describe the physiology of gastrointestinal motility.- Describe the physiological regulation of acid and bile secretion.- Describe digestion and absorption in the gut.- Give accounts of nutrition and starvation.- Give an account of gastrointestinal disorders.- Describe the structures and functions of the human kidneys.- Demonstrate understanding of the homeostatic roles sustained by the kidneys.- Use knowledge of the phenomena and mechanisms occurring in the kidneys to explain the performance of their homeostatic functions.- Predict the principal consequences of renal failure of various origins.

Indicative Module Content:

The module content is divided into 50% Gastrointestinal Physiology and 50% Renal Physiology.

Key topics in Gastrointestinal Physiology include:

• Histology of the GIT and its accessory organs
• Salivary glands and swallowing
• Regulation of acid secretion and stomach motility
• Liver physiology bile and jaundice
• Pancreatic secretion
• Small intestine secretions and motility
• Gastrointestinal micro flora and mucosal immunity
• Colon motility and defecation
• Digestion and absorption of key nutrients
• Biochemistry relating to:
o Whole body metabolism
o Obesity
o Metabolism of alcohol
o Vitamins and minerals

Key topics in Renal Physiology include:

• Histology of the kidney and its associated organs
• Renal function and circulation
• Ureters, urinary bladder and micturition
• Renal glomerular filtration and renal clearance
• Renal proximal tubular reabsorption and secretion
• Renal diluting segments and collecting system
• Urinary concentration
• Osmoregulation
• Extracellular fluid volume and sodium balance
• Acid-base physiology

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

10

Autonomous Student Learning

58

Lectures

24

Tutorial

7

Computer Aided Lab

2

Total

101


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures
Tutorials
Enquiry and problem based learning-Histology CALs

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Pre-requisite:
PHYS20030 - Organ and Systems Physiology, PHYS20150 - Cardiorespiratory Physiology

Incompatibles:
MDSA10110 - Renal Biology Med, MDSA20010 - GIT/Liver Biology, MDSA20190 - Renal Biology, PERS10120 - Sci of Human Perf I, PHTY10070 - Essentials of Human Performanc, PHTY10120 - Sci of Human Perf I, VET10120 - Homeost & Intro to Physio Comm

Additional Information:
Students must have completed one of the listed pre-requisite modules.


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): Short Brightspace hosted MCQ assessment of GIT histology taken at the end of a supported CAL session. Week 4, Week 5, Week 6 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
5
No
Exam (In-person): Short Brightspace hosted MCQ assessment of Renal histology taken at the end of a supported CAL session. Week 6, Week 7, Week 8 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
5
No
Exam (In-person): 2 hour essay based exit examination. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
70
No
Assignment(Including Essay): Short assignment based on GIT tutorial material. Week 3, Week 4, Week 5 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
10
No
Assignment(Including Essay): Short assignment based on Renal tutorial material. Week 8, Week 9, Week 10 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
10
No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

After the completion and grading of the written assessment, the marked-up assignment will be returned to individual students with comments /grade justification. General class feedback may also be given post-assessment orally or in the form of an announcement via the VLE.

Core Reading:
Pocock's Human Physiology
Wheater's Functional Histology or Junqueira's basic histology

Suggested additional reading:
Gastrointestinal Physiology (Barrett)
Vander's Renal Physiology (Eaton and Pooler)

Name Role
Dr Eoin Cummins Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Julie Freeman Tutor
Mrs Allison Kacperski Tutor